Costa Rica

Brief · 17 September 2026

This is the most recent brief; none has been generated since 17 September 2026. The event list below is current.

Costa Rica's notable activity this week centred on an M5.0 earthquake that struck 45 km southeast of Quepos on 10 September. The tremor was felt in the surrounding region, with tens of thousands of people estimated to be within the affected shaking zone. Drought conditions and ongoing volcanic activity at two peaks continue to affect parts of the country.

Earthquake An M5.0 earthquake occurred 45 km SSE of Quepos on 10 September at a depth of 10 km, with 24,353 people estimated to be exposed, including about 20,000 in the MMI IV shaking zone, and 8 felt reports recorded.

Drought A drought affecting Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela has covered an area of 528,277 square kilometres, part of a wider regional drought spanning 965,470 square kilometres.

Volcano Rincón de la Vieja and Poás volcanoes are both continuing ongoing eruptive activity at green alert level, the lowest classification.

• A drought affecting Costa Rica and several neighbouring countries, first reported on 27 July, is classed as a new event.
• Ongoing eruptive activity at Rincón de la Vieja, first tracked on 13 September, is classed as a new event.
• Ongoing eruptive activity at Poás, first tracked on 13 September, is classed as a new event.

Summarised from Hazardly's tracked events for the seven days to 17 September 2026 · no external sources. Generated by claude-sonnet-5 at 17 Sept, 20:41 UTC, not reviewed by a person before publication. Outbreak lines name the disease and country only; WHO's bulletin text is on each outbreak's event page.